Who painted Samson and Delilah?

Samson and Delilah was painted by Jan Steen in 1668.

Where can I see Samson and Delilah?

Samson and Delilah is held by Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

What movement is Samson and Delilah?

Samson and Delilah is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Samson and Delilah?

Museum-quality prints of Samson and Delilah are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Samson and Delilah

Jan Steen , 1668

Samson and Delilah is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jan Steen’s 1668 oil painting titled Samson and Delilah belongs to the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The work portrays a domestic interior where a disheveled man lies on a bed while a woman holds his cut hair in her lap. Around them, a small crowd of onlookers, a child with a dog, and a table laden with food and drink create a bustling, yet intimate atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The scene interprets the biblical episode of Samson’s betrayal, focusing on the moment of his vulnerability rather than the act of cutting itself. By placing Delilah’s hand calmly on Samson’s head amid the surrounding merriment, Steen emphasizes the contrast between personal betrayal and communal indifference, suggesting a moral commentary on the consequences of misplaced trust.

Technique & Style

Steen employs a warm, muted palette dominated by deep browns and ochres, using chiaroscuro to model forms and direct attention to the central figures. The interplay of light and shadow creates depth in the cramped room, while the loose brushwork around peripheral characters adds a sense of movement and liveliness to the composition.

History & Provenance

Executed in the late Dutch Golden Age, the painting entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s holdings in the 20th century, though earlier ownership records are sparse. Its attribution to Jan Steen has been consistently affirmed by stylistic analysis and museum documentation, confirming its place within his later oeuvre.

Context

Created toward the end of Steen’s career, the work reflects his interest in genre scenes that blend moralizing narratives with everyday settings. The inclusion of a child, a dog, and a convivial group mirrors the artist’s frequent use of domestic interiors to explore human folly and virtue within a familiar Dutch milieu.